The Eulenburg affair

More about the book

In 1906, the scandal involving Prince Philipp Eulenburg, a close confidant of Emperor Wilhelm II, sent shockwaves through the Hohenzollern monarchy and Europe. Initiated by journalist Maximilian Harden's accusations, the scandal dominated headlines until 1909, marking the first modern instance of open discussion about homosexuality. Harden alleged that Wilhelm was influenced by a homosexual group led by Eulenburg, which had purportedly orchestrated Bismarck's dismissal, isolated the emperor from his people, and contributed to Germany's precarious position during the Morocco Crisis of 1905-6. This controversy sparked public debates on various political, social, and cultural issues, including honor, friendship, marriage, sexual mores, anti-Semitism, class struggle, and military enthusiasm. The book offers the first scholarly monograph on the scandal, utilizing a vast array of primary sources, including around 5,000 newspaper articles, court trial minutes, correspondence, government files, pamphlets, diaries, and images. Domeier's analysis provides compelling insights into the cultural history of German politics during the critical transition from the Belle Époque to the tumultuous era of the world wars. Norman Domeier serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Stuttgart's Historical Institute.